Timeline event · 1 February 2003 · The Space Shuttle Era
The Columbia Disaster
The Space Shuttle Columbia breaks apart during re-entry, killing all seven crew and leading to the decision to retire the shuttle fleet.
Highlights
- ›The loss that led to the shuttle's retirement
Missions, people & worlds
Knowledge connections
- Part ofThe Space Shuttle Era
- Associated withSpace Shuttle program
- Associated withNASA
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.